Class of 2026: Alice Uwizera

For Alice Uwizera, graduating with a BA in International Relations represents far more than academic success. It marks the achievement of a dream she once thought might never be possible.

Alice moved to Belgium as a refugee when she was young after being forcibly displaced by war and conflict back home in Rwanda.

Despite the challenges this presented, Alice's early experiences sparked a deep curiosity about the world and a desire to understand why conflict, inequality and poverty continue to affect so many communities.

"When I was searching for courses and read the description of the BA International Relations programme, it immediately felt like the right fit for me and closely matched my background and experiences," she said.

After moving to the UK in 2016, Alice found herself balancing work, family life and caring responsibilities as a single mother.

Determined to create new opportunities for herself and her son, she returned to education through the Open University before progressing to Essex.

"The University of Essex became an obvious choice," she said.

"Not only is it close to where I live, but I also discovered that it has an excellent reputation for Politics and International Relations."

Starting university as a mature student came with challenges. English is not Alice's first language and she was diagnosed with dyslexia during her studies. However, support from staff across the University helped her flourish.

"When I started at the University of Essex in 2022 on the Foundation Pathway programme, I was extremely nervous and unsure whether I would succeed," she said.

"The staff were incredibly supportive and helped me develop the confidence and skills I needed to progress to my degree."

Alice says one of her proudest achievements was completing her Foundation Year with a First.

She made the most of opportunities beyond the classroom, working as a Marketing Intern with the UK Data Archive, a Lab Assistant at ESSEXLab and a Research Assistant in the Department of Government.

She also trained with the Digital Verification Unit, developing expertise in open-source investigation and digital security.

Another standout moment came during her second year when she presented her research at a departmental conference.

"As someone who finds public speaking stressful, I consider this a significant achievement and one of my proudest memories," she said.

Now preparing to graduate, Alice is looking ahead to the next chapter and hoping to pursue a masters to further her knowledge and understanding of international relations.

Reflecting on her experience at Essex, Alice said: "The staff across the university are supportive, understanding and generous with their time.

"That supportive environment has made a huge difference to my university experience."

She added: "I also want to acknowledge the important role my Christian faith, my family and members of the local community have played in my Essex journey. They have made a huge difference to my life and have contributed greatly to my success since moving to the UK."